Instep-supporter for boots and shoes.



PATENTED DEG. 31,1907. A. G. GEH/ERT.

INSTBP SUPPORTBR PORl BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1906.y

v ANDERS GusrAF GEFvERnoia PHI'LADELPHLQ, PENNsYLviNiA.

, INSTEP-SUPPORTR FOR BOOTS vAN'ID SHOES.

v Specification of Letters '.atent.

Patented Dee. 31, 1907.

ippiitation ie nay is, 1906. serial No. 317.134.

To dll whom 'itfmay comm.' Beit known that I, ANDERS GUs'rAF GE'F- VERT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadel liia, Pennsylvania., have invented certain Fmprovements in Instep-Sup orters f or Boots and Shoes, of which the fo lowis a specification.

y invention. relates to a device to be se cured inside a boot or shoe for the relief and -cure of flat-footedness, usually caused by a .'broken instep.

- My invention comprises a two-part sup-. porting' structure connected together under conditions-of use and having a resilient meml ber disposed between said parts, and the object of my invention is to so construct the 2ohing supporter that the top plat'e can be detached from the bottom plate to allow for the adjustment of yielding supports, and to rovide ed connection for the top and ottoni plate so that said top plate will lie close to the inner sole of the shoe.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1, is a cross-sectional view of an ordinary shoe at the instep pprtion, showing my improved su porter app 'ed thereto; Fig. 2, is a longial sectional view on thelline a-c, Fig. 1, and Fig. 3, is a perspective view showing the arts detached.

T e supporter forming the subject of my invention consists of a base plate l Whichis Secured to the inner sole of the shoe at the inste portion by means of screws 2 or other suita le fastenings. This plate has a projecting ortion 3 at one side ith openings 4, two in t e present inst ance, and a pin 5 at the opposite side. The plate 1 is more or less curved to follow 'the contour of the sole. The upper plate for supportin the instep is shown at 6. This plate is arc ed as shown,

' and is preferably longer and Wider than the .of the latter.

bottom plate so that it will lap over the edges The ends of this plate t down upon the inner sole of the shoe giving a comparatively smooth iinish, and when the insole 7 is mounted in the shoe above this top plate, there will be no annoying projections or ridges.

Secured to one side of the top late is a member 10 having curved ooks 1 1 extending `downwardly as shown. This hinge member is secured in the present instance, by rivets l2, but other suitable fastenings may be used; rivets being preferred so as to give a smooth nish to the upper surface of the top plate. The hooks l1 are so the bottom vents any side movement of the top plate, 1 but when the said top plate is raised, it can shaped that they Will readily enter the .open-v 'ings 4 in the bottoml plate, and when the top plate is down in position, it is firmly locked to plate. The hinged portion prebe readily detached.

Mounted o'n the pin 5 is a block of rubber 15 of any suitable height. This block yof rubber supports the top platejbut will yield to a certain extent under pressure. This rubber block is removable so that blocks of dlierent heights can be insertedXin its stead to change the position ofthe top plate with respect to the bottpm plate. Instead of using blocks of rubber, I may employ otherresilient material, and in some cases metal springs. In each instance resilient members of different heights will be used.v

By-making the top plate removable, it can be quickly replaced" if necessary or desirable with a different shaped plate, and by making lthe rubber block removable it can .be `re- ,placed with a block of lesser or greater height as may be desired. In order to cure flatfootedness, I preferably start with a very thin block of rubber so that the patient will become accustomed to the difference in the shape of the support for the foot. After-being worn for the desired length of time, this rubber block can be removed from the bot: tom plate and a block slightly higher can b e inserted, and so on, until the desired height is obtained to properly support the instep. By this method the changes will be gradual and the foot will be given necessary support Without discomfort.

I claim:

1. The combination, in an instep support for boot-s and shoes, of a base plate secured to the inner sole ofthe boot or shoe, a top plate extending acrossthe base plate and detachably hinged to the same at one side, a block of resilient material Jforming' a support and `detachably mounted between said plates at the side opposite their point of engagement, and means carried bythe base plate for positioning said support, said means not aecting its resiliency.

2. The combination, in an instep support for boots dand slices, of a base plate secured to the inner sole of the boot or shoe, a top plate extending across the sole and having a hooked portion at one side, said base plate being recessed for engagement by said hooked portion, and-a block of rubber de- `plate extending acrossthe sole and mounted tachably mounted bet-Ween said plates at the side opposite Vtheir point ofv engagement.

3. The combination, of a base plate 'Se- `cured to the instep portion of the insole ofa boot or shoe and recessed at one side, a top above said base plate, a hinge member secured to the underside of the top plate having projecting hooks'to engage the recesses of the bottom plate, and detachable means mounted between said plates and disposed at one' side of the same for supporting'r said bottom late. l

4.1'1`he combination, of a base plate recessed at one side and secured to the instep l portion of the inner sole of a boot or shoe7 a',

in. on the opposite side of said plate, a ruber block mounted on said pin, a curved top plate overlying said base late, a hinge member secred to the underside of the to plate, and hooks carried by said hinge mem er and arranged to enter the recesses in the base plate, so that. While the top plate is normally connected to the base plate, it can be readily detached therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

, ANDERS GUSTAF GEFVERT. Witnesses:

J. N. FORT, Jr., C. T. AYER. 

